“I’ve been great, just battling this flu going around,” she replies.
“Still,” I start, and Tyson tugs on my arm and I stop myself. “I’m sorry. Stuff like this makes me nervous,” I reply, covering up my faux pas.
“Oh, have you been to a ball before?" Nichole asks.
“No, but anywhere a bunch of rich people congregate makes me nervous.”
“You might want to get used to that since your boyfriend is well off,” Grayson the grouch grunts out like the ogre he is.
“You know, Gray, I believe I liked it better when you didn’t talk to me.” I’m not kidding. That’s the absolute truth. I think I like his dick more than his mouth, unless it’s on my body doing wicked things.
“I heard you had a doctor's appointment,” Nichole butts in, stopping whatever nasty reply McHottie was about to spew and I try to focus on her. I didn’t want my focus to be on him. Even though he’s an ass, he looked hot as fuck in his fitted gray suit. He was yumminess on a stick and he knew it.
“It went well. I’m surprised you weren’t there,” I answer.
“Sorry, I had another commitment.”
“A commitment more important than your child?” I ask, not believing her. If anything, she was avoiding me. I hope they’re not changing their mind about the baby just because I’m with Tyson. We have a deal for fuck's sakes and I’m no where near ready to be a mom.
“It was very important, and I’m sorry I missed it. I’ll make sure to make the next one,” she replies. “Come, Grayson, we should let the happy couple finish making their rounds.” With that, they walk away and Tyson pulls me close to his side.
“Don’t let them get to you, jewel.”
“I’m not. I just hope they're not backing out because I’m with you.”
“I doubt that’s it. They’re still probably trying to get over not being in control anymore.”
“I thought they were fine with it. They did sign the revisions you drew up after all,” I say frustrated.
“They did, but it doesn’t mean they were happy about it, or have even come to terms with everything.” After I showed Tyson the contract I signed, he looked over it thoroughly and made a couple corrections. He kicked out the no dating clause for obvious reasons, adding I had to be upfront with the interested party about me being a surrogate, which isn’t a problem since Tyson is the only one I’m currently dating and he already knows. The townhouse was still available, I just didn’t have to stay there. I think of it as a cooldown place if Tyson and I ever get into a fight. In the far back of my mind, it’s a place to go to if he ever kicks me out. Friday dinners were also taken out, which Nichole argued adamantly about keeping, so we changed it to one dinner once a month when our schedules allowed. We kept my monthly stipend as well as my gym obligations. Everything with Rob is crazy right now and I need to find time and have a serious conversation with him.
“It’ll get better, jewel, just give them time to get over themselves.” I nod, agreeing with him and he leads me out to the dance floor. Holding me close to his body, we sway to the music like we don’t have a care in the world.
Hours fly by as we dance and hold conversations with other couples much nicer than McHottie and Nichole. Even when Tyson gets absorbed in his work talk, I thank Garfield for his sessions and I’m able to follow along without getting too lost. When he gets into a heated debate with a member from a rival firm, I excuse myself and go to the ladies’ room. Pregnancy and having to pee go hand in hand. I’m surprised I lasted this long. While I’m washing my hands, I hear someone retching their guts out. At first, I think it’s someone who had too much champagne, but when the toilet flushes and Nichole steps out of the stall my eyes widen.
“Are you okay?” I ask when our eyes meet.
“Yes, I may have eaten something that didn’t agree with me. I’m fine now,” she says, waving my concern off.
“Are you sure?” I knew earlier she looked unwell. Maybe her and Grayson should have stayed home, or if he had to come to this event, he should have come by himself.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Jade.” Her voice is sharp and I take a step back from the venomous tone laced in her words. She doesn’t apologize, instead she washes and dries her hands like I’m not even there. Pissed, I leave in search for Grayson. I didn’t have to look far, and I pulled him into a secluded corner.
“Jade, what the hell?” he starts to say, but the look on my face has him shutting up.
Placing my hands on my hips, I let him have it. “If you knew Nichole was sick, why would you bring her here?”
“What are you going on about? Nichole is fine. You know, you’re acting real petty since you've got your rich boy toy wrapped around your finger. In events like these, you represent him. That pussy of yours must be pure gold for him to let you walk around talking to people any way you want.”
I ignore his crude comment. I mean he should know if it is or isn’t. He has fucked me after all. “If she isn’t sick, then explain to me why she was just in the ladies’ room puking her guts out.” He frowns at me before snapping his head looking for Nichole. When he sees her across the room, he strides right to her and pulls her away.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” Tyson asks, coming to my side.
“I found Nichole puking her guts out in the ladies’ room. I told Grayson he needs to worry more about his wife than some stupid work function. He may have also been a total douche canoe; you know the standard Grayson.”
“Come, jewel, let me help keep you out of trouble,” Tyson says, chuckling.
For the rest of the night, he does just that, never letting me out of his sight. When I see Grayson again, I’m happy to see he’s alone and has sent Nichole home. That’s good, I just wish he went with her. If she’s still sick with the flu, maybe they should think about taking her to see a doctor.
“Are you ready to go?” Tyson asks after a while, which is music to my ears. I was more than ready. My feet were begging for me to sit down and never think about walking again. He laughs at my more than enthusiastic nod and then we turn to find his father to let him know we were leaving. Garfield walks us out to the front and when the car pulls up, he gives me a fatherly kiss on the cheek goodbye.
Once the Bentley pulls off, I rest my head on Tyson’s shoulder all the way home. Just like earlier, the ride is quiet with neither of us having to speak. I’m no longer nervous. Instead, my thoughts are trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with Nichole. I couldn’t stop feeling like I’m missing something big. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen her much and I was actually missing our girl time. I mean, people get sick all the time. Why am I making such a big deal out of it? She has Grayson and even though he’s an asshole to me, he’s really good at taking care of her. Besides, I have my own tall drink of hotness I'd like to get to know. Grayson may have assumed I’m fucking Tyson, but he couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve only sampled him, I have yet to get to the main course. Something I hope to remedy tonight.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Tyson says and I laugh at the childhood saying.